Clock.



H. C. KORFHAGE.

CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30,1916.

1,21 9,749. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A Tram/5y H. C. KORFHAGE.

CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.15MB. 1 219 74:9. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- x3 Z 12,: MB /6- 3 W 5/:

I 6/ m I L 6/ M y 9; g u T 1 z g; 6 a I 8/ I 11 --4/f 56 l 6/ V 0 l ole/VL V Mr. NURRIS PETER; cu Iwunrunw wAsumc mp4. 0 c

H. C. KORFHAGE.

CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1916.

Patented Mar. 20,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

65 6 'ENTOR.

6 [N d aw? M y I I d ./i I

A URIVEV HERMAN o. KORFHAGE, on NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed June 80, 1916. Serial N 0. 106,745.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN C. Konr- HAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements, in Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clocks, and more particularly to tower clocks.

Tower clocks are of massive construction, and require very heavy weights to run them. The weights are suspended by means of cables or ropes, which are wound on drums, the number of turns of the rope about the drum, determining the length of time the clocks will run with one winding, the drums being connected with the great wheel mounted on the same shaft as the drum, the great wheel in turn meshing with a pinion on the central arbor, and imparting movement thereto. In order to avoid frequent rewinding, which is a laborious task, the suspension cables are of considerable length necessitating deep Wells or shafts for the descent of the weight, or a complicated set of pulleys, the use of which requires much heavier weights.

An object of this invention is the provision of improved means of applying power to a clock train.

Another object is the provision of means whereby the tractive force of the weight is applied directly to the central arbor thereby dispensing with the winding drum, great wheel and associated parts, with a consequent reduction of weight and friction.

Another object is the provision of mechanical means for raising the weight.

A further object is the provision of means whereby the weight raisingmeans is controlled by the position of the weight.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, wherein is set forth an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that such changes and modifications may be resorted to as come within the scope of the claims appended hereunto.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate likev parts in the several views, Figure 1, is a front elevation of the time train of a tower clock embodying my invention, the strike train being omitted for the sake of clarity: Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section on line 22 of Fig. 3: Fig. 3, a transverse section on line of big. 1: Fig. 4, a perspective view of the electric switch mechanism: Fig. 5, a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the contact springs: Fig. 6, a section on line 66 of Fig. 4.

- Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a stand comprising legs l1- on which rests a rectangular base 12. Erected on the base are two oppositely disposed frame members 13 connected at their upper ends by a transverse bar l-fl-. Clock mechanism being too well known to require extended description, suffice it to say that an arbor l5, usually known as the central arbor, a second or intermediate arbor 16, a third or scape arbor 17 and a fourth, or pallet arbor 18- are suitably and cooperatively mounted in the frame 13. The leaves of a wheel -l9 on the central, or hour arbor, engage with those of a pinion 20' on the intermediate arbor, while those of a wheel 21 on the intermediate arbor engage with a pinion 22 on the scape arbor. A pallet 23, onthe pallet arbor engages with an escape wheel 24 on the arbor 17. A crutch ;5- depends from the pallet arbor, a pin 26 on the lower end thereof being engaged in a slot 27- in a pendulum rod Q8-. The hour arbor 15 extends exterior of the frame and carries on its outer end a minute hand -29- which travels over a dial 30, an hour hand 3l being driven from the shaft 15 in the usual manner. Motion is transmitted from the arbor 15 by means of bevel gears 33-, to a vertical shaft 32 which leads upward and transmits motion to dial. mechanism on a tower above. A gimbal oint 35 serves to compensate for any variations in alinement of the shaft 32. A contact spring 36 is secured on the pallet shaft 18 in such position that oppositely disposed fingers 37- on the escape arbor 17 may contact therewith periodically, thereby closing an. electric current and transmitting impulses to subsidiary clocks distributed through the building. A sprocket wheel second sprocket wheel -4lis positioned on shaft 42, forward of and preferably l0 is positioned on the hour arbor, a

on a lower level than the hour arbor and in alinement therewith. An endless sprocket chain as is disposed over these sprocket wheels depending therefrom. This sprocket chain depends from the sprocket wheel all) a suitable distance and is then brought up and passed over a sprocket wheel i i l secured on a shaft l5 forming a bight l6-. After passing over the sprocket wheel a l, the chain drops forming a second bight 4l7 before it ascends to the sprocket wheel n. Blocks '8, l9 to which weights may be attached, ride res nect'ively in the bights as and 47. A wormgear 50 is secured on the shaft a5, and a worm 51- engaged therewith. The

worm 51 may be driven by any suitable means such as an electric motor -52, on the shaft 53 of which it is mounted. The motor is suspended from the base '12 by suitable means such as a bracket -5d, the forward end of the shaft 53 being carried by a bracket 55 A. weight, as 56 is suspended from the block and exerts tractive force, equally through the sprockets and a l, upon the shafts l5 and but movement of the shaft l5 is prevented by reason of the engagement of the worm with the worm-gear. lhe pulley as), in the bight l? carries suflicient weight, and intended only, to keep the chain taut. it is obvious that the effective force applied to each of the shafts is only half of the weight carried in the bight t6, and that said force is constant regardless of the length of the bight or changes in its length, conse quently the weight may be raised at any time without retarding the clock movement. The weight is raised through the n edium of the electric motor, by turning the shaft 45, and sprocket a thereby shortening the bight 4L6 and consequently lengthening the bight ll" The electric motor is controlled by means of a switch 60 which is actuated periodically by means of projections, or teeth-61 on the edge of the chain. The switch 60 comprises a base-plate -65 of suitable material, such as fiber, attached to the face which are contact blocks, or

se ments -66 havinc provision for the L? h L connection thereto of electrical conductors, and rotary brushes 67- which are adapted to be brought into contact with the contact-blocks, therebycompleting an electric circuit through and energizing the motor. illustrated herewith the base plate is 68, which projects from the base 12. The brushes are mounted on posts -69-, which are set in a collar 70!" formed about a rotatable spindle -7l-, which is mounted on the stud, forward of the base-plate. Springs d s posed about the posts and bearing respectively against the collar Y0 and the brushes insures firm contact of the brushes with the '61 which project therefrom will enga spindle is a flange ?3 extended from the forward face of which a plurality of pins ?i, similar pins being extended from the rear face thereof. The switch is so positioned that the pins it will lie between the descending limb 62, and the ascending limb -63, of the chain, and in such relationship thereto that 'ie t ge successively and periodically with said pin during both the descending and ascen lira movements of the chain. Guide-p a i if: ills 6 lare so positioned as to bear agains the back of the chain at such points as wil insure that the chain will maintain its position when the teeth 61 engage with the pins '74:. A spring 76 bears against the pins T5 and serves to prevent any overthrow in the movement of the brushes and to main tain them in adjusted position. As the limb 62 of the chain descends under the influence of the weight 56, a tooth 61 will engage with a. pin 74, and give the spindle a quarter turn, bringing the brushes into contact with the plates, thereby closing the motor circuit and starting up the motor. ihe motor rotates the sprocket wheel la which draws up the ascending limb 63, of the chain, shortening the bight ll), and raising the weight 56. This movement continues until an ascending teeth 61, in the limb 63, engages with a pin it on the spindle, giving the spindle a further quarter turn, thus moving the brushes from the contact blocks, bro king the motor circuit and stopping the motor. The chain may be of any desired length, but consider it desirable to have it of such length that it will run the clock for a period of more than 24 hours, say 36 hours, v-rithout the weight being raised, in order that the clock would not stop prematurely case of accident, such as a tooth being broken oil? the chain, or the electric current being terrupted. The projections, or teeth maybe spaced at any desired intervals about tie chain so that the weight may raised frequently and be normally near "he upper limit of its travel. Should a tooth be broken off the chain, the switch (30 would not be thrown at the proper time, as the weight was being raised, and the weight would be drawn up against and damage the switch mecha nism. To avoid this, it place. an electric switch 77, which is interposed in the motor circuit, preferably a single pole sin throw switch, in such a position that its handle extends into the path of the weig and is raised thereby, to open the motor circuit, and stop the ascent of the we it before it reaches a point where it will cause damage. The blocks 48, 1-9 each comprise a sprocket wheel 80 pivotally mounted within a shell the cheeks '8lof which extend beyond the circumference of the sprocket wheel a spaced distance suliicient to prevent the block from being accidentally displaced on the chain. \Vhile I have herein described my improvement as applied to the time train, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to the strike train. It will be clear to a person conversant .with the art that my improved construction dispenses with many parts, with a consequent diminution of friction, thus requiring a smaller weight to run the clock and reducing the total weight of the clock, thus making it more compact and economical in construction than those now in use.

Having thus described my invention so that anyone skilled in the art pertaining thereto may make and use the same,

I claim:

1. In a clock movement, a plurality of sprocket wheels, an endless chain disposed on and depending from said wheels, a weight adapted to ride in a bight formed by sald depending chain, a motor for shortening said bight and raising said weight, and means adapted to be actuated by a descending portion of the chain to render said motor operative, and by an ascending portion thereof to render it inoperative, said means comprising an electric switch consisting of a base plate, contact blocks thereon, a spindle rotatably mounted in front of said plate and carrying brushes adapted to bear on said block and pins extended from the forward end of the spindle.

2. In a clock movement, a sprocket wheel mounted on an arbor thereof, an endless chain disposed on said wheel and depending therefrom, a sprocket wheel mounted on a lower level, said chain being looped up and its outer periphery passed over said second named wheel thereby forming bights on each side thereof, a weight for driving the clock train riding in one of said bights, an electric motor, operative connections between said motor and the second wheel for turning said wheel and raising the weight, an electric switch adapted to control the motor, said switch comprising a base plate, contact blocks thereon, a spindle rotatably mounted in front of said base plate and carrying brushes which bear on said blocks, pins extended from the forward end of the spindle and lying between the limbs of a bight, and projections on the chain adapted to engage with said pins.

3. In a clock movement, a sprocket wheel mounted on an arbor thereof, an endless chain disposed on said wheel and depending therefrom, a sprocket wheel mounted on a lower level, said chain being looped up and its outer periphery passed over said second named wheel thereby forming bights on each side thereof, a weight for driving the clock train riding in one of said bights, an electric motor, operative connections between said motor and the second wheel for turning said wheel and raising said weight, an electric switch comprising a base plate, a rotatable spindle extended therefrom and carrying brushes which bear on the plate, pins extended from the forward end of the spindle and lying between the limbs of the bight carrying the driving weight, projections 0n the chain adapted to engage with said pins to throw the switch, and a switch adapted to be actuated by the weight at the limit of its upward movement to render the motor inoperative.

4. In a clock movement, a sprocket wheel mounted. on the main arbor thereof, an endless chain disposed on said wheel and depending therefrom, a sprocket wheel mounted on a lower level, said chain being looped up and its outer periphery passed over said second named wheel thereby forming depending bights on each side thereof, a weight for driving the clock train riding in one of' said bights, an electric motor, operative connections between said motor and the second wheel for turning said wheel and raising the weight, an electric switch comprising a base plate, contact blocks thereon, a spindle rotatably mounted in front of said base-plate and carrying brushes which bear on the plate pins extended from the forward end 9 of the spindle and lying between the limbs of the bight carrying the driving weight.

5. In a clock, an arbor, a sprocket wheel mounted thereon, a second arbor carrying a sprocket wheel, an endless sprocket chain depending from said sprocket wheels, a weight adapted to ride in a bight formed by said depending chain, a motor for shortening said bight and raising said weight, an electric switch comprising a base plate, contact blocks thereon, a spindle rotatably mounted in front thereof, brushes carried by said spindle and bearing on the blocks, a flange on the forward end of the spindle, pins extended from the face of the flange in planes parallel with the axis of the spindle, and lying between the limbs of a bight, and means whereby one limb of the bight engages with said pins and actuates the switch to energize the motor and the other limb of the bight actuates the switch to deenergize the motor.

6. In a clock, an arbor, a sprocket wheel mounted thereon, a second arbor carrying a sprocket wheel and an endless sprocket chain depending from said sprocket wheels, a weight adapted to ride in a bight formed by said depending chain, a motor for shortening said bight and raising said weight, means adapted to be actuated by a descending portion of the chain to render said motor operative and by an ascending portion to render it inoperative, said means comprising an electric switch consisting of a base-plate, a spindle rotatably mounted in front of said lei:

plate, posts extended radially from the spindle, brushes mounted on said posts and adapted to bear on the plate, a flange on the forward end of the spindle, and a plurality of pins extended from the face of the flange in planes parallel with the axis of the spindle.

7. In a clock movement, a sprocket wheel mounted on the main arbor thereof, an endless ehain disposed on said wheel and depending therefrom, a sprocket wheel mounted on a lower level, said chain being looped up and its outer periphery passed over said second named wheel thereby forming depending bights on each side thereof, a weight for driving the clock train riding in one of said bights, an electric motor, operative eonneetions between said motor and the second wheel for turning said wheel and raising the weight, an electric switeh, comprising a base plate, a rotatable spindle extended therefrom and carrying brushes which bear on the plate, pins extended from the forward end of the spindle and lying between the limbs of the bight carrying the driving weight, and projections on the chain adapted to engage with said pins to throw the switch.

HERMAN C. l IORFHAGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

